A fatal accident in Kitete Village, Mukono Central Division, has brought renewed attention to safety concerns at road construction sites in the area. On Thursday evening, 34-year-old fish vendor and mother Doreen Nampijja was fatally injured when a tree being uprooted fell on her while she rode on a boda boda along the Nakawolole–Kitete road, which is currently under construction.
Nampijja succumbed to her injuries shortly after being rushed to Mukono General Hospital, where doctors had amputated one of her legs in an attempt to save her life. The boda boda rider sustained severe injuries, including head trauma and a broken arm, and remains hospitalized.
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This tragedy marks the third death linked to the same roadworks in Mukono Municipality. Earlier, a machine operator and a casual laborer were killed at a site in Cathedral Rise under the same Chinese contractor, CCCC.
Eyewitness Patrick Bogere, a resident, said he had tried to warn people to avoid the danger zone, but his warnings were ignored. “They assumed it was routine work and rode through the area—that’s when the tree fell,” he said.
At Nampijja’s home, grief-stricken family and neighbors blamed the incident on negligence. Her husband, Paul Nahia, criticized the construction team for failing to issue warnings or erect safety signage along the busy road.
Mukono Municipality Deputy Mayor William Makumbi, who visited the family the following day, described the situation as “heartbreaking.” While citing factors like reckless riding and poor coordination between contractors and local leaders, he pledged the municipality’s support to the affected family.
District Councilor Hajji Lukeman Ssegayi called the incident a result of “gross negligence” by authorities and contractors alike. He emphasized the urgent need for clear warning signs and stricter safety measures at all active construction sites and urged boda boda riders to adhere to safety protocols.
The incident has prompted renewed calls for accountability and improved public safety measures to prevent future tragedies related to infrastructure development in the district.
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